click on above box to see video of treatment of 11 day old baby. (Quicktime is required to view video so you may have to download the program in order to view the actual video, site is under construction to eliminate this step.)

Delivery by forceps or vacuum suction

Transverse positioning of the unborn infant during labour

Breech or other abnormal delivery positions

Cesarean Section - there is a sudden change of pressure, the head does not go through the molding to pass through the birth canal. Often the force exerted by the physician to remove the infant itself can cause trauma . Normally hormones facilitating the birth process are released and baby is aware change is about to happen. In C Section, there is no signal, just dark quiet safe, to bright lights, hands, chaos. This is very hard on baby.

Umbilical cord around the infant’s neck

Drugs used during labour

Long, hard labour during which the infant’s head is pushed against the mother’s pelvis, thus excessively compressing the cranium.

Pictures to top left show unwinding and soft posture achieved as a result.

Symptoms of Distressed CranioSacral System in New Born

Holds body in excessive extension (arched), "lifting" head up, often described as having a “strong neck” when in fact, it is the result of a tight dural tube

Just as physical problems in the womb can create problems later, emotional stress sensed by the unborn child can also influence its health and well being following birth. A simple example is when a death occurs in the family during the pregnancy, creating grief for the mother and other family members.

When a newborn displays symptoms previously described of a distressed CSS, they may be the result of an emotional prenatal experience. Gentle CST techniques can often alleviate these internal CSS problems.

If you think this may apply, it can be discussed in detail at your first appointment

Length & Duration of Treatment Sessions

Ideally, treatment should begin before abnormal restrictions and patterns become accepted by the body as “normal” after which they may be more time consuming to reverse.

The initial treatment is one hour with subsequent visits for the newborn or young infant normally being 45 minutes, unless additional time is needed for discussion with parents. For simple problems, one or two treatments are sufficient, but in the case of difficult problems, additional treatments may be needed to get lasting results.

Symptoms of A Distressed CSS in Infants over 3 Months

Unable to lift head and look easily side to side when on stomach, unable to prop on forearms while on stomach

Neglects one side (only one hand goes in the mouth, more movement on one side than the other)